Ferrari and Lamborghini aside, Italian cars don't really register in the minds of the Filipino consumer. But that might all change in the coming years. Auto distribution newcomer Petromax Enterprises is bringing Alfa Romeo back to the Philippines and they're doing that by introducing a range of sporty models.

Headlining Alfa Romeo's comeback in the Philippines is the Giulia. It is a D-segment sedan with its crosshairs aimed straight at the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and Lexus IS. With its swept-back headlights and signature triangular grill, the Giulia sticks to the Alfa Romeo styling tradition.

The sides meanwhile sees soft curves and lines flowing through its flanks. There's even an ode of 70's Alfas with its 'coke-bottle' rear quarters. At the back, the tail lights are triangular in shape and the trunk lid gets a bit of flair with its kicked up tail.

Inside, it sees sweeping lines and round dials on the dashboard, another tribute to past Alfa Romeo models. A wide infotainment system is standard and keeping in tune with its primary competition. Leather then surrounds the rest of the cabin with satin aluminum trimmings to brighten up the cabin.

For the Philippines, the Giulia comes in two trim levels and two engine choices. In the Super trim line, it packs a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. The turbo motor is good for 200 PS and 330 Nm of torque and it shifts via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

But if that's not enough, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is also available. Aimed directly at the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63, the Quadrifoglio is a beefed up version of the luxury sedan. It has wider fenders, unique suspension settings, and a more aggressive exterior and interior upgrade.

Out goes the turbocharged four in the Quadrifoglio and in its place is a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The result is 505 PS and 600 Nm of torque, all of which go straight to the rear wheels. Factory performance figures claim the powerful sedan can do 0 to 100 km/h in under four seconds and has a top speed of 307 km/h.

The Giulia Super currently on display in their showroom is a European-spec model. That said, the units arriving in the country are specially spec’d for the Philippines. Bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights are tandard on the local Giulia Sport and leather interior in numerous color schemes. The importer has specified 18-inch wheels for a comfier ride. The same features are also found on the Giulia Quadrofoglio.

Aside from the Giulia Super and Giulia Quadrifoglio, the mid-engined lightweight Alfa Romeo 4C sports car is also available on indent order. Meanwhile, the Italian brand's SUV, the Stelvio, will be arriving in 2019 and is also available in both diesel and Quadrifoglio variants as well. Pricing for the Stelvio is expected to be released once the vehicle debuts.

Prices for the local Alfa Romeo range are as follows:

Alfa Romeo Giulia Super: Php 3,820,000

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrofoglio: Php 9,550,000

The Alfa Romeo showroom is located at Bonaventure Plaza, Connecticut St. corner Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, Metro Manila.